Sectionalized panel structure

ABSTRACT

A space divider assembly includes an overhead track arrangement and a plurality of built-up space divider panels suspended therefrom by means permitting movement of said panels along the track arrangement. Each of the built-up space divider panels includes a plurality of panel sections secured together and disposed end-to-end in co-planar vertically stacked relation to provide the required overall panel height. Each panel section defines pairs of spaced marginal edges, with adjacent spaced pairs of marginal edges of the respective end-to-end co-planar panel sections confronting each other. An elongated alignment strip is disposed between each adjacent confronting pair of marginal edges to assist in maintaining the panel sections in the desired co-planar relationship.

United States Patent Elhen [4 1 Sept. 26, 1972 [54] SECTIONALIZED PANEL STRUCTURE 2,445,552 7/ 1948' Baxter ..52/584 X 72 Inventor: Karl when Montreal, ebec, 2,863,503 l2/ 1958 Stroup ..l60/20l 1 Canada on 2,976,923 3/1961 Hirashiki ..l60/229 R [73] Assignee: Modernfold of Canada Limitedprimary Examiner ])ennis Taylor Modemmm Canada Limit, Attorney-Marechal, Biebel, French & Bugg Lambert, Quebec, Canada 22 Filed: Oct. 1, 1910 7] ABS A T 21 77,25 A space divider assembly includes an overhead track arrangement and a plurality of built-up space divider panels suspended therefrom by means permitting [52] US. Cl. ..l60/l99, 49/l27, 160/206 movement of said panels along the track arrangement [51] lliti elk "8.2""; 1.833025616134326 Each f the u space divider panels includes a [58] d 0 arc plurality of panel sections secured together and disposed end-to-end in co-planar vertically stacked 49/125, 127; 52/584,7l, 5 relation to provide the required overall panel height. Each panel section defines pairs of spaced marginal [56] References C'ted edges, with adjacent spaced pairs of marginal edges of UNITED STATES PATENTS the respective end-to-end co-planar panel sections confronting each other. An elongated alignment strip 947,225 l/l9l0 Donaldson ..52/456 is disposed between each adjacent confronting pair of 3380506 4/1968 Good at "mo/206 X marginal edges to assist in maintaining the panel sec- 635,5 76 10/1899 MClntOSh ..52/456 tions in the desired c p1anar relationship. 651,943 6/1900 White ..52/456 812,467 2/1906 Watkins ..52/456 8 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDsarzs m2 SHEEI 3 BF 3 FIG. 6

SECTIONALIZED PANEL STRUCTURE This invention relates to improvements in movable space divider structures of the type formed from a plurality of panels arranged for coplanar positioning, the panels being movable into a stacked storage position when the divider is not in use.

The panels of the movable space divider structures under consideration are suspended by suitable means from an overhead track arrangement for movement th'erealong and the panels may or may not be hingedly interconnected one to another. When they are hingedly connected, the hinged connections may be between pairs of said panels; alternatively a continuous hinged arrangement of panels may be used wherein the panels are connected together in series at their edges by hinges.

Space dividers of the co-planar panel type are often referred to as operable walls in that they function to provide a movable wall section for space isolation purposes. Such structures must be capable of providing a relatively high sound transmission loss function since the primary purpose for using such structures is to provide proper sound insulation. With such structures an attempt is made to approach the sound insulating advantages of a fixed wall while retaining mobility. For details of a space divider construction having the above advantages reference may be had to Charles R. Good et al. Canadian Pat. No. 761,743.

With the increasing use of space dividers of the type under consideration for subdividing large regions wherein the floor to ceiling distances are relatively great, say 20 feet or more, such as in large auditoriums, arenas etc., problems have arisen in connection with the fabrication of panels which are sufficiently high as to satisfy the height requirements. In addition, the very tall panels required are difficult to transport and awkward toinstall.

It is the main object of the invention to provide a built-up movable space divider panel including a plurality of panel sections joined together in co-planar vertically stacked relation thereby to achieve the desired overall panel height while at the same time providing for relative ease in panel fabrication and assembly.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference being had to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a movable space divider structure incorporating the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of the structure of FIG. I with the stacked positions of the panels being shown in dotted lines;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a single built-up space divider panel according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional end elevation view taken along line 44 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view in Section taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged section view of detail A shown in Fig. 3 (with detail E shown in FIG. 3 being a mirror image ofdetail A).

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary section view of detail F encircled in Fig. 4.

FIG. 1 illustrates the movable space divider structure as comprising a plurality of relatively tall, flat built-up panels 10 arranged as hingedly interconnected pairs and disposed in coplanar relation. Each panel 10 is suspended by a trolley assembly 14 suitably connected to a top portion of each panel, with the trolley assemblies riding an an overhead recessed track assembly 16 disposed within a ceiling structure 18, which serves to conceal the track and trolley assemblies and through which each of the trolley assemblies 14 downwardly extend for interconnection to respective ones of the panels. Extending between the ceiling panel structure 18 and a floor structure 20 are fixed jamb posts 22 and 24 which define the opposing ends of the space within which the space divider is received thus completing the structure surrounding the divider structure.

FIG. 2 illustrates the divider structure in a partly folded position in full lines and in broken lines shows the stacking positions of the pairs of panels when the space divider is in its inoperative position. Suitable handles (not shown) may be provided on the panels 10 to facilitate their movement into the folded position as controlled by movement of their respective trolley assemblies 14 along track assembly 16.

Suitable devices may be provided to force the panels 10 into mutually engaging relation with one another longitudinally of the assembly when they are in coplanar relation with one another to cause the panels to engage one another closely along their vertical margins thus preventing sound leakage therebetween. Suitable devices for achieving this are disclosed in the above mentioned Good et al. patent.

Each builtup panel 10 comprises a plurality of planar sections 12 connected together end-to-end in co-planar vertically stacked relation thereby to provide the overall panel height required. The joints between the panel sections extend horizontally when the panels 10 are in their upright assembled positions. As seen in FIG. 3 the top panel section is connected along its lowermost marginal edge to the upper marginal edge of intermediate section 12b while the latter is connected along its lowermost marginal edge to the bottom section 120.

Each panel section 12 includes a pair of spaced, parallel, co-extensive planar face plates 26, preferably of sheet steel of a thickness selected to provide accoustical limpness and structural rigidity. A suitable coating is applied to face plates 26 to give them an attractive appearance. Each section 12 includes a marginal frame structure 28 which also assists in giving structural rigidity to each section. Frame 28 comprises top and bottom U-shaped in cross section channel members 30 which extend the full width of the panel section at each of its opposing ends, and a pair of U- shaped channel members 32 which extend the full height of the panel section at each of its opposing sides. All of the channel members are arranged such that the web portions 34 thereof are disposed inwardly of the panel section while the flanges 36 thereof are directed outwardly. Each of the above mentioned channel members is interposed between face plates 26 adjacent a respectively associated pair of the marginal edges of the face plates with said marginal edges being flush with the outermost edges of the outwardly directed flanges 36 of the channel members. Suitable fasteners (not shown) secure the face plates 26 to frame 28. The frame channel members 30 and 32 may themselves be secured together at the four corners of the frame assembly by suitable brackets (not shown) or by welding. The space between the face plates 26 is filled with a sound insulating material, such as a fiber glass blanket to reduce sound transmission through the panel sec tion.

interposed between the top section 12a and the intermediate section 12b as well as between the latter and bottom section 12c are metal alignment strips 38 each of which extends the full width of the panel sections. Each alignment strip, as seen' in cross section, in-

cludes an intermediate web portion 40 having a width equal to the panel section thickness and opposed flanges 42 connected to and co-extensive with the longitudinal edges of the web 40 and disposed at right angles thereto. When the panels are in their end-to -end co-planar assembled relationship the confronting spaced marginal edges 44 (see FIG. 7) of the panel sections (as defined by the edges of the previously mentioned face plates 26 and the outer edges of flanges 36) come into contact with the respective opposing faces of web 40 just inwardly of the longitudinal marginal edges of the latter, with flanges 42 being disposed outwardly of the confronting marginal edges 44 and in contact with those portions of the face plates 26 which are adjacent the above mentioned marginal edges '44. The central portion of the web 40 is of a greater thickness than the longitudinal edge portions and thereby define together with the above mentioned flanges 42, spaced pairs of elongated grooves 46 within which the confronting marginal edges 44 of the assembled panels are disposed. The alignment strips 38 serve to hold the panel sections in co-planar relation with one another, to protect the confronting marginal edges of the panel sections and to provide a uniform distance between the panel edges.

In order to facilitate manufacture of the alignment strips 38 they may each be constructed in two parts; an upper part 380 and a lower part 38b as shown in FIG. 7 in which event they are conveniently secured together by suitable screw fastener means (not shown).

In order to secure the panel sections together, nut and bolt fastener assemblies 48 are used as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6. Two assemblies 48 are required for each joint between the panel sections, one assembly being disposed adjacent each end of the joint as seen in Fig. 3 just inwardly of the opposing sides of the panel. Each fastener assembly 48 includes a bolt 50 which passes through suitable holes in the spaced webs of the adjacent top and bottom channels 30 and which is threaded into a nut 52 welded to a reinforcing plate 54 secured to the web of channel 30 as seen in Fig. 6. To permit installation and/or removal of bolt 50 an access opening 54 is cut in each vertical channel 32 of the top and intermediate panel sections 12a and 12b respectively just above the joints between the sections and a housing 56 of generally inverted L shape configuration is welded in place as shown in FIG. 6 to define an access space for permitting bolt 50 to be withdrawn or inserted and at the same time preventing access to the region intermediate the face plates 26 wherein the insulating media is disposed.

Fastener assemblies 48 further include cylindrical spacers 58 disposed between the webs of the channels 30 and the webs 40 of the associated alignment strips 38. The spacers 58 surround the shanks of their associated bolts 50 thereby preventing crushing or distortion of any part of channels 30 when fastener assemblies 48 are tightened.

The top and bottom edges of the assembled panel 10 are provided with marginal finger seals 60 while the vertical edges of the panel 10 are provided with interfitting tongue and groove assemblies 62 and 64 to provide an adequate barrier against the transmission of sound around the marginal edges of the panel 10.

' Iclaimi 1. A built-up space divider panel including a plurality of panel sections disposed end-to-end in co-planar vertically stacked relation to provide a panel having the required overall height, and means rigidly securing said sections. together in said end-to-end vertically stacked co-planner relationship, each panel section defining pairs of spaced marginal edges, with adjacent spaced pairs of marginal edges of the respective end-to-end coplanar panel sections confronting each other, and elongated alignment strip meansdisposed between each adjacent confronting pair of spaced marginal edges and having correspondingly spaced recesses therein receiving said confronting spaced pairs of marginal edges to assist in maintaining the panel sections in said coplanar relationship, each panel arrangement and a plurality of built-up space divider panels suspended therefrom by means permitting movement of said panels along the track arrangement, each said built-up space divider panel including a plurality of panel sections disposed end-to-end in co-planar vertically stacked relation to provide a panel having the required overall height, and means securing said sections rigidly together in said end-to-end vertically stacked co-planar relationship, each 'panel section defining pairs of spaced marginal edges, with adjacent spaced pairs of marginal edges of the respective end-to-end co-planar panel sections confronting each other, and elongated alignment strip means disposed between each adjacent confronting pair of spaced marginal edges and having correspondingly spaced grooves therein receiving said confronting spaced pairs of marginal edges to assist in maintaining the panel sections in the desired co-planar relationship.

2. The assembly according to claim 1 wherein each panel section includes a spaced pair of generally paral-- lel co-extensive face plates defining spaced pairs of edges and a marginal frame structure including a plurality of U-shaped in cross section channel members each having a web and a pair of spaced flanges, each channel member disposed between said face plates adjacent a respectively associated pair of the edges defined by said face plates with said spaced flanges being directed outwardly of the panel, the outermost pairs of spaced marginal edges, with adjacent spaced pairs of marginal edges of the respective end-to-end coplanar panel sections confronting each other, and elongated alignment strip means disposed between each adjacent confronting pair of spaced marginal edges and having correspondingly spaced recesses therein receiving said confronting spaced pairs of marginal edges to assist in maintaining the panel sections in said coplanar relationship, each panel section includes a spaced pair of generally parallel co-extensive face plates defining spaced pairs of edges and a marginal frame structure including a plurality of U-shaped in cross section channel members each having a web and a pair of spaced flanges, each channel member disposed between said face plates adjacent a respectively associated pair of the edges defined by said face plates with said spaced flanges being directed outwardly of the panel, the outermost extremities of said flanges of the channel members and the edges of said face plates associated therewith serving to define said previously mentioned marginal edges of the panel sections which are received within said recesses of said alignment strip means.

4. The panel according to claim 3 wherein the means securing the panel sections together comprise fastener means extending through adjacent pairs of said channel members to secure the panel sections together in their end-to-end co-planar relation.

5. A space divider assembly comprising an overhead track arrangement and a plurality of built-up space divider panels suspended therefrom by means permitting movement of said panels along the track arrangement,

each said built-up space divider panelincluding a plu- I relationship, each panel section including a spaced pair I of generally parallel co-extensive face plates defining spaced pairs of edges and a marginal frame structure including a plurality of U-shaped in cross section channel members each having a web and a pair of spaced flanges, each channel member disposed between said face plates adjacent a respectively associated pair of the edges defined by said face plates with said spaced flanges being directed outwardly of the panel, the outermost extremities of said flanges of the channel members being generally flush with the edges of said face plates associated therewith thereby to define said spaced pairs of marginal edges of the panel sections and wherein each alignment strip defines spaced pairs of grooves receiving said spaced pairs of confronting marginal edges of the panel sections, and means rigidly securing said sections together in said end-to-end vertically stacked co-planar relationship.

6. A space divider assembly comprising an overhead track arrangement and a plurality of built-up space divider panels suspended therefrom by means permitting movement of said panels along the track arrangement,

each said built-up space divider p el includinga plurality of panel sections dispose end-to-end m corelationship, each panel section including a spaced pair of generally parallel co-extensive face plates defining spaced pairs of edges and a marginal frame structure including a plurality of U-shaped in cross section channel members each having a web and a pair of spaced flanges, each channel member disposed between said face plates adjacent a respectively associated pair of the edges defined by said face plates with said spaced flanges being directed outwardly of the panel, and means securing said panel sections together comprising fastener means extending through adjacent pairs of said channel members to secure the panel sections together in said end-to-end co-planar relation.

7. A built-up space divider panel including a plurality of panel sections disposed end-to-end in co-planar vertically stacked relation to provide a panel having the required overall height, each panel section defining pairs of spaced marginal edges, with adjacent spaced pairs of marginal edges of the respective end-to-end coplanar panel sections confronting each other, an elongated alignment strip disposed between each adjacent confronting pair of marginal edges to assist in maintaining the panel sections in the desired co-planar relationship, each panel section including a spaced pair of generally parallel co-extensive face plates defining spaced pairs of edges and a marginal frame structure including a plurality of U-shaped in cross section channel members each having a web and a pair of spaced flanges, each channel member disposed between said face plates adjacent a respectively associated pair of the edges defined by said face plates with said spaced flanges being directed outwardly of the panel, the outermost extremities of said flanges of the channel members being generally flush with the edges of said face plates associated therewith thereby to define said previously mentioned marginal edges of the panel sections and wherein each said alignment strip defines spaced I pairs of grooves receiving the spaced pairs of confronting marginal edges of the panel sections, and means rigidly securing said sections together in said end-toend vertically stacked co-planar relationship.

8. The panel according to claim 7 wherein the means securing the panel sections together comprise fastener means extending through adjacent pairs of said channel members to secure the panel sections together in their end-to-end co-planar relation. 

1. A built-up space divider panel including a plurality of panel sections disposed end-to-end in co-planar vertically stacked relation to provide a panel having the required overall height, and means rigidly securing said sections together in said end-toend vertically stacked co-planner relationship, each panel section defining pairs of spaced marginal edges, with adjacent spaced pairs of marginal edges of the respective end-to-end coplanar panel sections confronting each other, and elongated alignment strip means disposed between each adjacent confronting pair of spaced marginal edges and having correspondingly spaced recesses therein receiving said confronting spaced pairs of marginal edges to assist in maintaining the panel sections in said co-planar relationship, each panel arrangement and a plurality of built-up space divider panels suspended therefrom by means permitting movement of said panels along the track arrangement, each said built-up space divider panel including a plurality of panel sections disposed end-to-end in co-planar vertically stacked relation to provide a panel having the required overall height, and means securing said sections rigidly together in said end-to-end vertically stacked co-planar relationship, each panel section defining pairs of spaced marginal edges, with adjacent spaced pairs of marginal edges of the respective end-to-end co-planar panel sections confronting each other, and elongated alignment strip means disposed between each adjacent confronting pair of spaced marginal edges and having correspondingly spaced grooves therein receiving said confronting spaced pairs of marginal edges to assist in maintaining the panel sections in the desired co-planar relationship.
 2. The assembly according to claim 1 wherein each panel section includes a spaced pair of generally parallel co-extensive face plates defining spaced pairs of edges and a marginal frame structure including a plurality of U-shaped in cross section channel members each having a web and a pair of spaced flanges, each channel member disposed between said face plates adjacent a respectively associated pair of the edges defined by said face plates with said spaced flanges being directed outwardly of the panel, the outermost extremities of said flanges of the channel members and the edges of said face plates associated therewith serving to define said previously mentioned marginal edges of the panel sections which are received in the spaced pairs of grooves of said alignment strip means.
 3. A built-up space divider panel including a plurality of panel sections disposed end-to-end in co-planar vertically stacked relation to provide a panel having the required overall height, and means rigidly securing said sections together in said end-to-end vertically stacked co-planar relationship, each panel section defining pairs of spaced marginal edges, with adjacent spaced pairs of marginal edges of the respective end-to-end co-planar panel sections confronting each other, and elongated alignment strip means disposed between each adjacent confronting pair of spaced marginal edges and having correspondingly spaced recesses therein receiving said confronting spaced pairs of marginal edges to assist in maintaining the panel sections in said co-planar relationship, each panel section includes a spaced pair of generally parallel co-extensive face plates defining spaced pairs of edges and a marginal frame structure including a plurality of U-shaped in cross section channel members each having a web and a pair of spaced flanges, each channel member disposed between said face plates adjacent a respectively associated pair of the edges defined by said face plates with said spaced flanges being directed outwardly of the panel, the outermost extremities of said flanges of the channel members and the edges of said face plates associated therewith serving to define said previously mentioned marginal edges of the panel sections whicH are received within said recesses of said alignment strip means.
 4. The panel according to claim 3 wherein the means securing the panel sections together comprise fastener means extending through adjacent pairs of said channel members to secure the panel sections together in their end-to-end co-planar relation.
 5. A space divider assembly comprising an overhead track arrangement and a plurality of built-up space divider panels suspended therefrom by means permitting movement of said panels along the track arrangement, each said built-up space divider panel including a plurality of panel sections disposed end-to-end in co-planar vertically stacked relation to provide a panel having the required overall height, each panel section defining pairs of spaced marginal edges, with adjacent spaced pairs of marginal edges of the respective end-to-end co-planar panel sections confronting each other, an elongated alignment strip disposed between each adjacent confronting pair of marginal edges to assist in maintaining the panel sections in the desired co-planar relationship, each panel section including a spaced pair of generally parallel co-extensive face plates defining spaced pairs of edges and a marginal frame structure including a plurality of U-shaped in cross section channel members each having a web and a pair of spaced flanges, each channel member disposed between said face plates adjacent a respectively associated pair of the edges defined by said face plates with said spaced flanges being directed outwardly of the panel, the outermost extremities of said flanges of the channel members being generally flush with the edges of said face plates associated therewith thereby to define said spaced pairs of marginal edges of the panel sections and wherein each alignment strip defines spaced pairs of grooves receiving said spaced pairs of confronting marginal edges of the panel sections, and means rigidly securing said sections together in said end-to-end vertically stacked co-planar relationship.
 6. A space divider assembly comprising an overhead track arrangement and a plurality of built-up space divider panels suspended therefrom by means permitting movement of said panels along the track arrangement, each said built-up space divider panel including a plurality of panel sections disposed end-to-end in co-planar vertically stacked relation to provide a panel having the required overall height, each panel section defining pairs of spaced marginal edges, with adjacent spaced pairs of marginal edges of the respective end-to-end co-planar panel sections confronting each other, an elongated alignment strip disposed between each adjacent confronting pair of marginal edges to assist in maintaining the panel sections in the desired co-planar relationship, each panel section including a spaced pair of generally parallel co-extensive face plates defining spaced pairs of edges and a marginal frame structure including a plurality of U-shaped in cross section channel members each having a web and a pair of spaced flanges, each channel member disposed between said face plates adjacent a respectively associated pair of the edges defined by said face plates with said spaced flanges being directed outwardly of the panel, and means securing said panel sections together comprising fastener means extending through adjacent pairs of said channel members to secure the panel sections together in said end-to-end co-planar relation.
 7. A built-up space divider panel including a plurality of panel sections disposed end-to-end in co-planar vertically stacked relation to provide a panel having the required overall height, each panel section defining pairs of spaced marginal edges, with adjacent spaced pairs of marginal edges of the respective end-to-end co-planar panel sections confronting each other, an elongated alignment strip disposed between each adjacent confronting pair of marginal edges to assist in maintaining the panel sections in the desired co-planar relationship, each panel section includIng a spaced pair of generally parallel co-extensive face plates defining spaced pairs of edges and a marginal frame structure including a plurality of U-shaped in cross section channel members each having a web and a pair of spaced flanges, each channel member disposed between said face plates adjacent a respectively associated pair of the edges defined by said face plates with said spaced flanges being directed outwardly of the panel, the outermost extremities of said flanges of the channel members being generally flush with the edges of said face plates associated therewith thereby to define said previously mentioned marginal edges of the panel sections and wherein each said alignment strip defines spaced pairs of grooves receiving the spaced pairs of confronting marginal edges of the panel sections, and means rigidly securing said sections together in said end-to-end vertically stacked co-planar relationship.
 8. The panel according to claim 7 wherein the means securing the panel sections together comprise fastener means extending through adjacent pairs of said channel members to secure the panel sections together in their end-to-end co-planar relation. 